Ice tray



remarcar-4, 1939 UNITED STATE-.s1 vPMI-:NT oFFlcE Ica 'may James n. Miner, Meridian, Miss, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New `York Application September 18, 1935, Serial No. 41,144

' Renewed August 27, 1937 12 Claims.

' 10 ing the ice from the dividing means. With the apparatus of-the present invention, the ice remains in the tray upon the removal of the dividing means, and thereafter the ice may readily be removed from the tray.

15 It is an object of my invention to provide a freezing tray and a grid embodying an improved arrangement for facilitating the release of the grid from the freezing tray.

\Another object of my invention is to provide an improved grid for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition units of simple and economical construction.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent-as the following deg5 scription proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forminga part of this specication;

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawf .ing in which Fig. 1 isa-longitudinal sectional view of a freezing tray and a grid embodying my invention, these parts being shown in their rela-l tion preliminary to freeing the ice; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the freezing tray and the grid shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view p of the freezing tray and the grid showing the relation of these parts after a partial separation thereof; and Fig. 4 is a view of the freezing tray and the grid similar to that of Fig. 3 showing these parts in a diiferent relation.

Referring to the drawing I have shown a freezing orice tray 5 which may be of any desired shape, .and as here shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, is of elongated narrow form with steeply sloping longitudinal sides 6.

The freezing tray has end walls 'l which may be more nearly vertical, if desired. It is immaterial whether the tray is rigid as when it is made 5|) of glass or whether it is flexible as when made of4 thin metal. lfv the freezing tray is made of thin metalrhowever, an advantage is had in that the ice may be more easily freed by iiexing the tray.l

,An arrangement including 'a grid is provided 55 for subdlvidingthe ice containedin the freezing (Cl. (i2-108.5)

tray into blocks or cubes and also for facilitating the removal of the ice blocks from the freezing tray. This grid .comprises a longitudinal connector or carrier member 9, a plurality of transverse dividing walls or blades lll depending from 5 Vthe under side of the carrier member and extending straight across the tray, and longitudinally extending dividing walls or blades H disposed 4between the transverse blades.- The carrier member 9 is in the form of a strip narrower than 10 the width of the top of the tray, but of such length thatits ends overlie the 4end walls l of the tray. These overlying ends of the carrier member -provide portions which may be gripped.v by a tool l2, for example, to remove the entire l5 subdividing means from the tray. By forming the member 9 of less width than the width of the tray, the longitudinal sides of the tray are exposed so that the tray may be held down while the carrier member is` being turned or twisted by 20 the tool I2. The 4carrier member' should be as flexible as possible but should be of such rigidity that it will not become permanently bent when it isv being acted upon by the tool l2.

'The transverse blades I0 depend perpendicu- 25 larly from the carrier member in planes transverse to the length thereof and conform in shape to the interior cross-section of the tray. Each blade IIJ is of downwardly tapered shape so that it may be easily removed from the ice. Ay fea- 30 ture of the invention is that these blades l0 are of greater height than the height of the tray, so that their uppermost portions are at a level above the top of the tray. As a result of this, the car--v rier member 9 attached to the tops of the blades 35 I0, is spaced above the tray and the overlying ends of the carrier member are out of contact with the end Walls 1 of the tray. 'I'his permits the tool IZ to be applied to an end of the carrier member 9, as shown in Fig. 1. y 40 The longitudinal blades Il vare located centrally of the transverse blades I0. Theyltaper downwardly in shape and are perpendicular relative to the carrier member 9, to facilitate their withdrawal from the ice. In order that these 45 longitudinal blades will not prevent the free exing of the carrier member 9, they are attached at only one of their sides. As here shown the blades I I are each formed integrally with one of the transverse blades vIl) and are free from but close to both the carrier member and thenext transverse bladejas is best shown in Fig. l. A transverse blade and\ its connectedv longitudinal blade form agroup of connected blades or pa ...-titionunit of substantially inde nde t' of the other blade groups or partition units. These blade groups are arranged in juxtaposed relation and retained in assembled relation by the carrier member 9. It is apparent from this 5 that the transverse blades are not connected together bythe longitudinal blades nor are the transverse blades connected to the carrier member by the longitudinal blades. 'I'he carrier' member can therefore flex as freely as though the longitudinal blades were not present. This arrangement provides for limited relative movements between the connected blade groups or partition units in order to facilitate the release of the ice blocks therefrom. It will be under stood, however, that the longitudinal blades may form a slight connection between the transverse blades and the carrier Imember without depart ing from the spirit of the invention. It is important to note that the endmost blade III and the endmost blade I I are spaced inwardly from the ends ofthe carrier member so that these ends are free for the tool I2 to be applied thereto. Also a straight longitudinally extending blade is carried by the carrier member 9 adjacent the left-hand end thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood that this end blade is unconnected to the adjacent transverse blade .in order to allow free-flexing of the carrier member 9. In freezing, the ice cannot come into contact with and become frozen to the carrier member 9 because of the elevated position of the carrier ymember. Only the blades can become frozen into the ice, and removal of the entiresubdivid- 35 ing means is, to this extent, facilitated. To remove the subdividing means, the t'ool I2 is applied as shown in Fig. 1, and is given a back and forth turning or cranking movement to assure the positions in Figs. 3 and 4, while the tray is 40 held stationary. This turning movement causes Y the blades to break loose from the ice while the ice remains partly adhered to the tray. The ice remains adhered to the tray because the ice has a greater surface contact with the tray than with 45 the blades.

55 tray is'first broken loose from the walls of the freezing compartment. Additional turning movement of the tool brings the tray into a position within the freezing chamber in which further turning of the tray is prevented by the walls of the freezing chamber, and thereafter. the blades will be twisted from the ice in the `manner already described.

It is importantv to note that the transverse blades-.are not all broken loose atv once, but that 55 they are successively broken loose, due to the twist which is possible between adjacent transverse blades resulting from the fact that they are not connected together or to the carrier member. The longitudinal blades are broken -10 loose with the transverse blades to which they transverse blades and the second blade and its connected longitudinal blade can remain in the ice. After the first transverse and longitudinal blades have been broken loose, substantially the entire force exerted is applied to the second 5 transverse and longitudinal blades to break them loose, the flexing between the third and second transverse blades making this posible. Inthis manner, all the blade groups are individually` broken loose, one after the other. Because the 10 blade groups are individually broken loose and are not all broken loose at once, less force need be applied to effect removal of the blades. l Only sufficient force has to be exerted to break loose one transverse and longitudinal blade at a time. 15

After all the blades have been broken loose in this manner the entire subdividing means" may be removed from the tray. The ice within the tray is thenleft with relatively wide spaces at the points formerly occupied by the blades. The 20 ice can therefore easily be removed by forcing the remaining ice blocks apart by a tool within the spaces between the blocks. Ordinarily, the twisting of the tool to remove the blades will also partly break the ice loose from the tray, and a 25 slight blow upon the ice will then completely free the ice from the tray. Or, the tray may be twisted if it is capable of such distortion and this will break the ice loose from the tray.

While the ends of the carrier member 9 have 30 here been shown as terminating over the end walls of the tray, it is apparent that the carrier member may be longer or shorter than here shown. It is only necessary that the ends of the carrier member extend to a point to be easily gripped by a tool, or to be otherwise manipulated.

If desired, projections I4 extending inwardly of the tray from the side Walls 6, may be provided to engage with the ice and prevent upward movement of the ice with the blades. If these projections I4 are not provided and if an ice cube remains with the blades, this ice cube may. be broken loose from the blades by inserting a tool in the space between the carrier member l and the top of the ice cube and forcing the cube out. 5

'The present tool I2 has a lateral enlargement at the end opposite from the handle end, and this enlargement has a kerf or cross slot I3 to receive the end of the carrier member. Such a tool gives a considerable mechanical advantage. It will be understood, however, that any other suitable instrument may be used in place of the particular tool I2 here shown. For example an instrument may be inserted between an end or the carrier member and the top edge of the tray to exert a wedging or lever effect forcing the subdividing means upwardly. While I have shown a particular embodiment 60 of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention. i c5 I claim: Y

1. Means for subdividing the contents of an ice tray at points for intended partition of the contents, comprising a longitudinal carrier member, a plurality of transverse blades depending :u therefrom and extending straight across the car-v rier member and tray, and projections extending from the blades longitudinally of the carrier member and lying perpendicularly to the carrier member, said projections being each connected 15 armies tween the transverse blades and lying perpendicular to the carrier member, .s aid longitudinal blades being connected at one o! their sides only to the transverse blades toallow free flexing of the carrier member.

3. Means for subdividing the contents. of an ice tray at pointsl for intended partition of the contents, comprising a longitudinal carrier member, a plurality of transverse blades depending therefrom, and blades projectingo from corresponding sides of the transverse blades and lying longitudinally of and perpendicular to the carri'er member, said longitudinalblades being -attached to the transverse blade from which they vproject but being free of the carrier member and other blades.

4. The 'combination with an' ice tray, of removable means for, subdividing V the contents thereof. vsaid means comprisinga plurality of upright blades lying transversely within the tray.

and a plurality ot upright bladeslying longitudinally of the tray and each connected to one only of the transverse blades, andaicarrier member to which only the transverse blades at their upper portions are connected, saidgcarrier member overlyingl an end wall ofthe tray.- said transverse blades being higher thanI the height of the tray whereby the carrier' member' is spaced above the top of the tray with the overlying end of the carrier member out o! contact witli'th'e end wall of the tm. I

5. The combination according. to' claim 4 in which the blades are disposed inwardly from the ends ot the carrier member to provide free end portions of the carrier member to be gripped in ymanipulating the subdividin means.

6. In combination withan ice tray, a grid comprising a longitudinal connector and a plurality oi similar partition unitsrelatively movable with respect to each otherand depending from said connector, each of said partition units including a dividing wall adapted to extend transversely across the tray and va dividing wall adapted to extend longitudinally of the tray and carried by said mst-mentioned dividing wallintermediate theends thereof, said partition umts being otherwise unconnected between themselves to allow mediate the ends thereof. said partition units be-` free relative movements therebetween.-

7. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid comprising a plurality of'similar partition units, each o! said partition units including a transverse dividing wall adapted to extend across the tray and a longitudinal dividing wall carried by one side of said transverse dividing wall inter- -ing arranged in juxtaposed relation, and means including a connector for retaining said partition units in assembled relation and for accommodating limited relative movement therebetween, 'said longitudililldivldinlwalloflaidpartionunits.

being unconnected between themselves and unconnected at their lower ends to said connector to allow free relative movements between vsaid partition umts.

8. A grid for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition units, each of said partition units including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall carried by, one side of said transverse dividing wall, said partition units being arranged in juxtaposed relation, and means including a connector secured to said transverse dividing walls of said partition units for retaining said partition units in assembled relation and for accommodating limited relative movements therebetween, said llongitudinal dividing walls of said partition units being unconnected between themselves and unconnected to said connector `to allow free relative movements between said partition units.

9. A grid for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar substantially T-shaped partition units, said T-shaped partition units being arranged in juxtaposed relation with the stems oi said T-shaped partition units extending in the same direction and in substantial longitudinal alignment, and means including a connector secured to said partition units for retaining said partition units in assembled relation and for accommodating limited relative movements therebetween, the stems of said T-shaped partition units being unconnected between themselves and unconnected to said connector to allow free reiative movements between said partition units.

10. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid comprising a plurality of substantially T-shaped partition units arranged in juxtaposed' relation, a exible connector. and means for securing said partition units to` said connector at spaced apart intervals along its length and for affording ilexing vof said connector substantially throughout the length thereof.

1l. A grid for freemng trays comprising a plurality of similar partition units' arranged in juxtaposed relation, each of said partition umts including a plurality of dividing walls connectedv together, and means including a iiexible connector secured to said partition units for retaining said partition units in assembled relation and for accommodating limited relative movements therebetween, at least one of the dividing walls of each of said partition units being unconnected to said connector to allow free relative movements between said partition units.

12. A grid for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition units arranged in jux-v taposed relation, each of said partition units including a plurality' of dividing walls connected together, and means including a exible connector secured to said partition units for retaining said partition units in assembled relation and for accommodating limited relative movements therebetween, a correspondingone of the dividing walls of each ot said partition units being unconnected to said connector to allow free relative movements between said partition units. A

JAMISEMINER. 

